Big Bets to Prevent Climate Collapse

This episode explores how philanthropy can fund the risky, under‑the‑radar climate ideas that governments and markets often neglect. Host Herb Simmens speaks with Joshua Elliott, Chief Scientist at Renaissance Philanthropy, about why we now need ambitious, translational R&D instead of small, incremental tweaks.

This video was recorded on May 13th, 2026, and published on May 17th, 2026, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

Joshua outlines Renaissance’s mission to massively increase investment in science and technology for climate, focusing on catastrophic risks and resilience—from stabilizing ice sheets through the Arête Glacier Initiative to bold concepts like inland sea reflooding to store seawater on land and reduce sea‑level rise. They also discuss why the ocean is likely the only scalable, cost‑effective carbon sink, and how ocean‑based CDR ideas like iron fertilization and clay‑induced carbon export could be responsibly tested.

The conversation digs into the politics and ethics of working at the edge of climate intervention: why controversial ideas need careful governance, how AI can both help and harm climate communication, and why philanthropic “big bets” matter when public funding is constrained or risk‑averse. If you’re interested in what “emergency options” for the climate system might look like over the next few decades, this episode is for you.

Links:

• Support Our Mission

• Renaissance Philanthropy

• Defense Advanced Research Projects agency (DARPA)

• ARC - Advanced Research for Climate Emergencies

• UK Horizons: Climate Emergencies Forum (CEF)

• CEF Video - Bye Bye 1.5, What’s Next?

• Natural hydrogen (geologic hydrogen)

• Arête Glacier Initiative

• The Climate Triad For a Safe and Healthy Climate (CEF Video)

• Doomsday Glacier and a Seabed Curtain (CEF Video)

• Are We Near the AMOC Tipping Point? (CEF Video)

• Kuroshio Current

• Ekman transport : Ekman pumping

• Exploring Ocean Iron Solutions

• Growing Oceans

• Clay Carbon Ocean

• Ocean Carbon Sequestration Using Clay Minerals

• Climate Restoration Alliance

• Tertiary Impact Capital

• Donor-advised fund

• Santa Marta: Fossil Fuel Phase‑Out (CEF Video)

• Inland Sea Reflooding

• Sea level much higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments

• Reflective

• Stardust Solutions

• Janos Pasztor: Solar Radiation Modification and Our Future (CEF Video)

• The Global Risk and Stabilization Summit 2026

• The Hantavirus Is Also a Climate Warning

• Super El Niño Ahead? (CEF Video)

• Southeast Asia warned of ‘Godzilla El Nino’ whiplash threatening drought, floods, haze

• Do Democrats Still Need to Campaign on Climate Change? Huber Discusses in the New York Times

• CEF Website Podcast page

Special Guest:

• Dr. Joshua Elliott - is Chief Scientist at Renaissance Philanthropy, where he leads ARC (Advanced Research for Climate Emergencies) and other programs focused on catastrophic climate risk and resilience. Trained as a theoretical physicist and climate modeler, he designs high‑risk, high‑impact R&D efforts on ice‑sheet stabilization, sea‑level adaptation, frontier decarbonization, and ocean‑based carbon removal that most funders won’t touch.

Regular Panelists:

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions